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wrong

 - 8 dictionary results

wrong

  [rawng, rong]
Use wrong in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not in accordance with what is morally right or good: a wrong deed.
2. deviating from truth or fact; erroneous: a wrong answer.
3. not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc., as a person; in error: You are wrong to blame him.
4. not proper or usual; not in accordance with requirements or recommended practice: the wrong way to hold a golf club.
5. out of order; awry; amiss: Something is wrong with the machine.
6. not suitable or appropriate: He always says the wrong thing.
7. (of clothing) that should be worn or kept inward or under: You're wearing the sweater wrong side out.
–noun
8. that which is wrong, or not in accordance with morality, goodness, or truth; evil: I committed many wrongs.
9. an injustice: The wrongs they suffered aged them.
10. Law.
a. an invasion of another's right, to his damage.
b. a tort.
–adverb
11. in a wrong manner; not rightly; awry; amiss: You did it wrong again.
–verb (used with object)
12. to do wrong to; treat unfairly or unjustly; harm.
13. to impute evil to (someone) unjustly; malign.
—Idioms
14. get in wrong, Slang. to cause to come into disfavor: We are forever getting in wrong with the people next door.
15. go wrong,
a. to go amiss; fail: Everything is going wrong today.
b. to pursue an immoral course; become depraved: Bad friends caused him to go wrong.
16. in the wrong, to blame; in error: He knew he was in the wrong but refused to concede the point.
Origin:
bef. 1100; (adj.) ME wrong, wrang, OE wrang, perh. < ODan wrang; cf. Dan vrang wrong, ON rangr awry; (v. and adv.) ME, deriv. of the adj.; (n.) ME; OE wrang, deriv. of the adj.; akin to wring

Related forms:
wronger, noun
wrongly, adverb
wrongness, noun

Synonyms:
1. bad, evil, wicked, sinful, immoral, iniquitous, reprehensible, crooked. 2. inaccurate, incorrect, false, untrue, mistaken. 6. improper, unsuitable. 8. misdoing, wickedness, sin, vice. 12. maltreat, abuse, oppress, cheat, defraud, dishonor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wrong
wrong   (rông, rŏng)   
adj.  

  1. Not in conformity with fact or truth; incorrect or erroneous.

    1. Contrary to conscience, morality, or law; immoral or wicked.

    2. Unfair; unjust.

  3. Not required, intended, or wanted: took a wrong turn.

  4. Not fitting or suitable; inappropriate or improper: said the wrong thing.

  5. Not in accord with established usage, method, or procedure: the wrong way to shuck clams.

  6. Not functioning properly; out of order.

  7. Unacceptable or undesirable according to social convention.

  8. Designating the side, as of a garment, that is less finished and not intended to show: socks worn wrong side out.

adv.  

  1. In a wrong manner; mistakenly or erroneously.

  2. In a wrong course or direction.

  3. Immorally or unjustly: She acted wrong to lie.

  4. In an unfavorable way. See Synonyms at amiss.

n.  

    1. An unjust or injurious act.

    2. Something contrary to ethics or morality.

    3. An invasion or a violation of another's legal rights.

    4. Law A tort. See Synonyms at injustice.

    1. An invasion or a violation of another's legal rights.

    2. Law A tort. See Synonyms at injustice.

  3. The condition of being in error or at fault: in the wrong.

tr.v.   wronged, wrong·ing, wrongs

  1. To treat unjustly or injuriously.

  2. To discredit unjustly; malign.

  3. To treat dishonorably; violate.


[Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
wrong'er n., wrong'ly adv., wrong'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

wrong  (adj.)
late O.E., "twisted, crooked, wry," from O.N. rangr, earlier *wrangr "crooked, wry, wrong," from P.Gmc. *wrangaz (cf. Dan. vrang "crooked, wrong," M.Du. wranc, Du. wrang "sour, bitter," lit. "that which distorts the mouth"), from PIE *wrengh- "to turn" (see wring). Sense of "not right, bad, immoral, unjust" developed by c.1300. Wrong thus is etymologically a negative of right (from L. rectus, lit. "straight"). L. pravus was lit. "crooked," but most commonly "wrong, bad;" and other words for "crooked" also have meant "wrong" in It. and Slav. Cf. also Fr. tort "wrong, injustice," from L. tortus "twisted." Wrong-headed first recorded 1732. To get up on the wrong side (of the bed) "be in a bad mood" is recorded from 1801.

wrong  (n.)
"that which is improper or unjust," c.1100, from wrong (adj.). Meaning "an unjust action" is recorded from c.1200.

wrong  (v.)
"to do wrong to," c.1330, from wrong (adj.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: wrong
Function: noun
1 : a violation of the rights of another; especially : TORT
2 : something (as conduct, practices, or qualities) contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law wrong>

Main Entry: wrong
Function: transitive verb
: to do a wrong to : treat with injustice
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

wrong

see back the wrong horse; bark up the wrong tree; do someone wrong; get someone wrong; get up on the wrong side of bed; go wrong; in the wrong; on the right (wrong) foot; on the right (wrong) tack; right (wrong) side of the tracks; rub the wrong way; take the wrong way; two wrongs do not make a right.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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